Abstract
ABSTRACTObjective: To analyze the prevalence of breastfeeding and the introduction of complementary food for zero to 24-month-old infants.Methods: This is a population-based cross-sectional study of children aged less than 24 months in Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Data were collected in 2015, by interviews with people in charge of infant care in the house. The questionnaire administered assessed the sociodemographic status of the family, maternal and infant characteristics and food consumption habits. Survival analysis was used to calculate median prevalence and duration of breastfeeding and the introduction of complementary feeding. Results: With 180 days of life, 4.0% of the children were exclusively breastfed, 22.4% were mostly breastfed and 43.4% were fed breast milk as complementary food. In the third month of life, children were consuming water (56.8%), fruit juice or formula (15.5%) and cow’s milk (10.6%). At the age of 12 months, 31.1% were consuming artificial juice and 50.0% were eating candies. Before the age of 1 year, 25.0% of them had already eaten instant noodles.Conclusions: The introduction of drinks, honey, sugar and candies as complementary food was found to be premature; and solid and semi-solid foods were almost appropriate. The habits described can directly affect the success of breastfeeding. Given that the inadequate eating practices identified can compromise the infant’s health, actions that promote breastfeeding and provide guidance on the introduction of complementary foods are important.
Highlights
IntroductionThe first years of life of an infant are characterized by the speed of growth and development, and eating habits play an essential role to make sure that such phenomena take place adequately.[1,2] The quality and the quantity of foods consumed by the child are critical aspects and have repercussions throughout life, being associated with the profile of health and nutrition, since childhood is one of the most biologically vulnerable stages of life considering nutritional deficiencies and disorders.[3,4,5]The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the child be fed exclusively with breastmilk until the age of six months,[6] which has a positive impact on the survival rate and on health at this phase and in adult life.[7]
Regarding the variables related with maternal and infant health, there were higher frequencies for beginning of prenatal care before the 14th week of pregnancy (78.5%; 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 72.0– 79.2), normal delivery (57.7%; 95%CI 53.1–61.3), male child (53.9%; 95%CI 49.6–57.9) and weight at birth ≥ than 2500g (90.5%; 95%CI 7.3–12.3)
The findings are in accordance with the results found by Bortolini et al.,[12] Schincaglia et al.[13] and Coelho et al.,[14] who verified that the intake of other types of milk is high among children aged less than six months; those being breastfed do not need to receive other types of milk or dairy products.[12]
Summary
The first years of life of an infant are characterized by the speed of growth and development, and eating habits play an essential role to make sure that such phenomena take place adequately.[1,2] The quality and the quantity of foods consumed by the child are critical aspects and have repercussions throughout life, being associated with the profile of health and nutrition, since childhood is one of the most biologically vulnerable stages of life considering nutritional deficiencies and disorders.[3,4,5]The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the child be fed exclusively with breastmilk until the age of six months,[6] which has a positive impact on the survival rate and on health at this phase and in adult life.[7]. The inadequate introduction of foods in the diet of the infant may lead to damaging consequences to health, especially when the offer is made before the complete physiological development.[1] Regarding the nutritional aspect, it is unfavorable, since it increases the risk of contamination and allergic reactions, interferes in the absorption of important nutrients in maternal milk, and implies in the risk of early weaning. The late initiation of foods is disadvantageous, since after the sixth month of life maternal milk no longer meets the energy needs of the child, leading to the deceleration of growth and increasing the risk of nutritional deficiency.[8]
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